Posted on 01/07/2004 8:56:16 AM PST by JohnnyZ
U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris said Tuesday that she is nearing a decision on whether to seek the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Democrat Bob Graham.
The state's controversial former secretary of state, a Republican, said she'll make up her mind by the end of next week. Her deliberations are of intense interest from Florida to the White House, where strategists worry about her rekindling Democratic memories of the 2000 election and sharing a ballot with President Bush.
But Harris, who rejected suggestions that the White House has asked her to put off a run, continued to make a case Tuesday for why this is her year. She said strategists and polls she has seen indicate she's the only Republican with enough appeal to take the seat from the Democrats.
''I'm the only one who has won statewide, and has more experience than anyone else,'' she said of the already crowded field of Republican contenders.
She did acknowledge, though, that she has been encouraged by the administration to challenge Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson in 2006.
''That's a nice thought, but given the choice between an open seat or an incumbent, that's a really easy decision,'' she said.
Polls show that the one-term Sarasota congresswoman would become the GOP front-runner on the strength of her widespread name recognition and rock-star status among the party faithful.
But White House strategists fear that her presence on the ballot would reignite Democratic furor over the 2000 election in the country's biggest swing state.
And her entry in the race could imperil the White House's choice, former U.S. Housing Secretary Mel Martinez, a Cuban-born Republican who opened a campaign account Monday.
Martinez jumped into the race amid worries of some Republicans that the race lacked a heavyweight.
The other GOP candidates for the office are former U.S. Rep. Bill McCollum, state Sen. Daniel Webster, state House Speaker Johnnie Byrd and judicial activist Larry Klayman.
Harris said she's talked to strategists and fundraisers and is convinced that her presence wouldn't hurt the president.
''I incite far more Republicans to come out than Democrats,'' she said.
The more I read about Martinez, the more I like him as a candidate. He is still relatively unknown statewide and isn't all that experienced. But I still like Katherine a lot, and if she wishes to run, go for it. She deserves the opportunity and is an excellent candidate. Republicans should never let Democrats decide who we run, or we would be running John McCain for everything.
She's dreaming if she thinks the dems won't be motivated to go to the polls if she's the candidate.
This may hurt other republicans on the ticket by encouraging dem voters to turn out.
I do also like Mel Martinez (who is plenty experience as county mayor (basically) and Cabinet head, and strongly pro-life) better than Harris.
I do think KH is probably the second best candidate in terms of electability, after Martinez. I'd prefer Webster but he needs $$$, McCollum hell no the moron already blew one open seat race, and Byrd is about as polarizing as Harris.
But in terms of policy and principles and wanting an effective senator, they're all fairly conservative but Harris is right there near the bottom of my list, right above Klayman.
It would take a gun to keep those nuts away from the polls. It is those lunatics that try to vote 4 or 5 times in every election.
Maybe 'cause he could be Vice President by 2009. Maybe because being Senator is a nice, cushy job. Maybe 'cause he isn't gonna chicken out, doesn't want to be remembered as the guy who gave up without a fight. Maybe 'cause he'll be in the limelight with the renewed focus on NASA. Maybe 'cause he's sitting on $1.5 million in campaign funds three years before the election.
From "up here" (that is, not knowing the "local politics") it would seem that a better choice for her would be Nelson's seat, whether he's running again or not (!)...in '06 did someone say? That would at least give her two terms in the House to run on, and Martinez as a former cabinet secretary should be an excellent candidate even if he's less "name recognized" at the moment...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.